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Personal Journeys, Future Challenges

By Alex Johnson

Several months ago, a very good friend of mine, Robert Callaway, died suddenly at the age of 45. He had progressed through the administrative ranks to the deans' level at Lorain County Community College and aspired to become a president. Robert considered me one of his mentors. We experienced a similar inner-city upbringing. Like me, he enjoyed sports, was goal-oriented, and loved being with family members. As I reflected on our friendship, I began to think about the experiences in my life that helped form the traits in me that Robert sought to emulate.

I soon realized that my leadership fabric, the object that constitutes my leadership style, consists of more than just talent, education, and experience. Woven into this fabric, too, are the threads of my personal encounters that shaped me personally and professionally. First, the personal perspectives and characteristics I bring to my presidency are bound inextricably to my upbringing in Concord, North Carolina, in the 1950s and '60s, when the separate schools and public accommodations established for the town's black citizens were second-rate. As president, I am committed to creating an environment that embraces inclusion, equity, and fairness. My hope is that students develop attitudes and values related to diversity that can be applied in the home, community, and workplace. I believe that leaders from underrepresented groups, because of their backgrounds, are particularly equipped to carry out this responsibility, while being responsible for leading everyone. . . .

Excerpted from the spring 2009 issue of The Presidency. To subscribe to the magazine, please call (301) 632-6757, or order online through ACE's bookstore.